For AC Power, Real Power (P) formula is PVrms^2/R.With that said, does that mean that if I connect an ideal inductor to 120V @60 Hz, I will have infinite Real Power?, because an ideal inductors resistance (R) is 0. So, Real Power 120/0 Infinity.That means I will use an infinite amount of energy if I connect the inductor to the power line.
An inductor will store energy as the current through it increases (Energy (1/2)*L* i^2) but this stored energy is returned when the current drops to zero. The inductor will not use any power since the inductors current lags the voltage by 90 degrees and the maximum energy stored is equal to the (1/2)*L*i^2.
Same thing happens if you connect a short across the power line. The current increases until a breaker pops somewhere. Infinite power is just not available in the real world. .
I try not to feel too much. It leads to crazy, irrational decisions. And if I do feel an overwhelming wave of intense emotion, I assume it is caused by hormones. You might think I'm being rude and sarcastic, but I promise I'm being honest here.
Think of a real inductor as an ideal inductor in series with a real resistor. In the case of imagining an ideal inductor, the series resistor is zero ohms. So when you connect that across the AC line, the current is completely controlled by the reactance (2*pi*F*L) of the ideal inductance, and that inductor current also passing through zero ohms determines the consumed power, which is zero, since (I^2)*R 0 when R is zero, regardless of the current. This means is that all the line voltage is dropped across the inductance and none is dropped across the resistance. -- Regards, John Popelish
In an ideal circuit with an ideal inductor you'd have no real power. Since inductors are purely reactive in nature, it will reflect power back towards the source resulting in a net of zero watts. Your correct in saying R0. That is incomplete because an inductor is represented by a complex number R + jX. X is not zero. Therefore you won't have an infinite answer. Your cell phone charger connected by itself is an inductor (transformer) and it is connected across the 120 volt supply in your house. It gets warm because it isn't ideal, but it is highly inductive and will reflect power back towards the source.
